Drug use in Australian workplaces is increasing, with amphetamine-type stimulants like methamphetamine becoming the most common substances detected, according to a report from the Drug Detection Agency, Australasia's largest workplace drug-testing provider.
The agency's latest data for the final quarter of 2025/26 indicates that these stimulants now make up six in every 10 positive drug tests, primarily among workers in the transport, construction, and manufacturing sectors.
"Methamphetamine is an incredibly dangerous drug," said agency head Glenn Dobson. "It's incredibly negative in the community, but when it gets into the workplace, it creates some very real safety issues."
The presence of amphetamine-type stimulants accounted for 60% of all positive tests in the June quarter, representing a significant year-on-year increase of 17.9%. This trend serves as a stark warning to employers regarding workplace safety.
Opioids, including oxycodone, were the next most prevalent, making up 11.6% of positive tests, though their usage saw a substantial decrease of 36% over the year. The report notes that opioid use by a bus driver was a significant factor in a 2023 incident in the NSW Hunter Valley, where 10 wedding guests died and 25 others were injured. The bus driver was sentenced to 32 years in prison, and the company directors pleaded guilty to safety failures.
Cocaine was detected in 8% of positive tests, an increase from the previous year. Cannabis, while present in 39% of positive tests, showed a slight annual decline in usage.
Overall, drugs were detected in 3% of all screens conducted by the agency, a rate that has remained broadly unchanged. "That's three in every 100 in a workplace—that could be three bus drivers, three truck drivers, three construction workers," Dobson stated.
Geographically, Western Australia reported the highest use of amphetamine-type stimulants at 88.6%, with other mainland states also showing rates at or above 50%. Dobson highlighted that "WA has got a meth problem," noting that while WA stands out for methamphetamine, South Australia and the eastern states are notable for cocaine use. South Australia had the highest cocaine detections, Queensland the highest cannabis detections, and Victoria the highest opioid detections.
"What we are seeing globally now - certainly in Australia ... is cocaine is no longer the glam, higher-end drug," Dobson commented. "It is a drug that's being used by a huge subset of the community."
The agency conducts approximately 250,000 tests annually, including urine and oral-fluid screening. The data reflects a mix of pre-employment, post-incident, regular, and random testing, with some tests indicating the presence of multiple substances. The report advises employers to manage workplace risks and regularly review their drug and alcohol policies to prevent incidents like the Hunter Valley tragedy.